Electromagnetically controlled injector having flux bridge and flux break

ABSTRACT

An injector for injecting a reagent includes an axially translatable valve member positioned within a housing. An electromagnet is positioned within the housing and includes a cylindrically-shaped coil of wire. The valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet. A flux sleeve passes through the coil and includes two magnetic portions interconnected by a non-magnetic portion. Each of the magnetic portions is aligned with transverse planes defined by the ends of the cylindrical coil. The non-magnetic portion is axially positioned between the transverse planes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/164976, filed Jun. 21, 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/023870, filed Feb. 9, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/303,146, filed Feb. 10, 2010. The entire disclosures of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to injector systems and, more particularly, relates to an injector system for injecting reagent, such as an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust stream to reduce oxides of nitrogen (NO_(x)) emissions from diesel engine exhaust.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. Lean burn engines provide improved fuel efficiency by operating with an excess of oxygen, that is, a quantity of oxygen that is greater than the amount necessary for complete combustion of the available fuel. Such engines are said to run “lean” or on a “lean mixture.” However, this improved or increase in fuel economy, as opposed to non-lean burn combustion, is offset by undesired pollution emissions, specifically in the form of oxides of nitrogen (NO_(x)).

One method used to reduce NO_(x) emissions from lean burn internal combustion engines is known as selective catalytic reduction (SCR). SCR, when used, for example, to reduce NO_(x) emissions from a diesel engine, involves injecting an atomized reagent into the exhaust stream of the engine in relation to one or more selected engine operational parameters, such as exhaust gas temperature, engine rpm or engine load as measured by engine fuel flow, turbo boost pressure or exhaust NO_(x) mass flow. The reagent/exhaust gas mixture is passed through a reactor containing a catalyst, such as, for example, activated carbon, or metals, such as platinum, vanadium or tungsten, which are capable of reducing the NO_(x) concentration in the presence of the reagent.

An aqueous urea solution is known to be an effective reagent in SCR systems for diesel engines. However, use of such an aqueous urea solution involves many disadvantages. Urea is highly corrosive and may adversely affect mechanical components of the SCR system, such as the injectors used to inject the urea mixture into the exhaust gas stream. Urea also may solidify upon prolonged exposure to high temperatures, such as temperatures encountered in diesel exhaust systems. Solidified urea will accumulate in the narrow passageways and exit orifice openings typically found in injectors. Solidified urea may also cause fouling of moving parts of the injector and clog any openings or urea flow passageways, thereby rendering the injector unusable.

In addition, if the urea mixture is not finely atomized, urea deposits will form in the catalytic reactor, inhibiting the action of the catalyst and thereby reducing the SCR system effectiveness. High injection pressures are one way of minimizing the problem of insufficient atomization of the urea mixture. However, high injection pressures often result in over-penetration of the injector spray plume into the exhaust stream, causing the plume to impinge on the inner surface of the exhaust pipe opposite the injector. Over-penetration also leads to inefficient use of the urea mixture and reduces the range over which the vehicle can operate with reduced NO_(x) emissions. Only a finite amount of aqueous urea can be carried on a vehicle, and what is carried should be used efficiently to maximize vehicle range and reduce the need for frequent replenishment of the reagent.

Several known reagent injectors include a solenoid valve for metering the supply of reagent into the exhaust stream. Typically, a magnetic moveable member of the valve is urged to translate between open and closed positions as an electromagnet is selectively energized and deenergized. The electromagnets of many prior injectors include multiple flux leakage areas resulting in a poorly defined magnetic circuit. Control of the reagent valve may not be optimized using these types of magnetic circuits. The amount of reagent actually dispensed within the exhaust system may vary from a target rate of reagent injection resulting in inefficient use of the onboard reagent. The time required for the valve to cycle from a closed condition, to an opened condition, and back to a closed condition, may be larger than desired due to the magnetic circuit arrangement.

Further, aqueous urea is a poor lubricant. This characteristic adversely affects moving parts within the injector and requires that relatively tight or small fits, clearances and tolerances be employed between adjacent or relatively moving parts within an injector. Aqueous urea also has a high propensity for leakage. This characteristic adversely affects mating surfaces requiring enhanced sealing resources in many locations.

It may be advantageous to provide an improved electromagnetically controlled injector having a well defined magnetic circuit to improve reagent injection control.

Methods and apparatus of the present disclosure provide the foregoing and other advantages.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

An injector for injecting a reagent includes an axially translatable valve member positioned within a housing. An electromagnet is positioned within the housing and includes a cylindrically-shaped coil of wire. The valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet. A flux sleeve passes through the coil and includes two magnetic portions interconnected by a non-magnetic portion. Each of the magnetic portions is aligned with transverse planes defined by the ends of the cylindrical coil. The non-magnetic portion is axially positioned between the transverse planes.

An injector for injecting a reagent includes an axially translatable valve member positioned within a housing. An electromagnet is positioned within the housing and includes a coil of wire circumscribing at least a portion of the valve member. The valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet. A flux frame surrounds the coil. The frame includes first and second radially extending portions axially spaced apart from one another and extending along substantially parallel planes positioned on opposite sides of the coil. A flux sleeve includes two magnetic portions interconnected by a non-magnetic portion. Each of the magnetic portions is intersected by one of the planes in which the radially extending flux frame portions lie to define flux bridges. The non-magnetic portion is surrounded by the coil and axially positioned between the parallel planes to define a flux break.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting an exemplary exhaust aftertreatment system including an electromagnetically controlled reagent injector having a flux bridge and flux break in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electromagnetically controlled reagent injector;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the reagent injector; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the injector depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be understood that although the present teachings may be described in connection with diesel engines and the reduction of NO_(x) emissions, the present teachings may be used in connection with any one of a number of exhaust streams, such as, by way of non-limiting example, those from diesel, gasoline, turbine, fuel cell, jet or any other power source outputting a discharge stream. Moreover, the present teachings may be used in connection with the reduction of any one of a number of undesired emissions. For example, injection of hydrocarbons for the regeneration of diesel particulate filters is also within the scope of the present disclosure. For additional description, attention should be directed to commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0179087A1, filed Nov. 21, 2008, entitled “Method And Apparatus For Injecting Atomized Fluids”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

With reference to the FIGS., a pollution control system 8 for reducing NO_(x) emissions from the exhaust of a diesel engine 21 is provided. In FIG. 1, solid lines between the elements of the system denote fluid lines for reagent and dashed lines denote electrical connections. The system of the present teachings may include a reagent tank 10 for holding the reagent and a delivery module 12 for delivering the reagent from the tank 10. The reagent may be a urea solution, a hydrocarbon, an alkyl ester, alcohol, an organic compound, water, or the like and can be a blend or combination thereof. It should also be appreciated that one or more reagents can be available in the system and can be used singly or in combination. The tank 10 and delivery module 12 may form an integrated reagent tank/delivery module. Also provided as part of system 8 is an electronic injection controller 14, a reagent injector 16, and an exhaust system 18. Exhaust system 18 includes an exhaust conduit 19 providing an exhaust stream to at least one catalyst bed 17.

The delivery module 12 may comprise a pump that supplies reagent from the tank 10 via a supply line 9. The reagent tank 10 may be polypropylene, epoxy coated carbon steel, PVC, or stainless steel and sized according to the application (e.g., vehicle size, intended use of the vehicle, and the like). A pressure regulator (not shown) may be provided to maintain the system at predetermined pressure setpoint (e.g., relatively low pressures of approximately 60-80 psi, or in some embodiments a pressure of approximately 60-150 psi) and may be located in the return line 35 from the reagent injector 16. A pressure sensor may be provided in the supply line 9 leading to the reagent injector 16. The system may also incorporate various freeze protection strategies to thaw frozen reagent or to prevent the reagent from freezing. During system operation, regardless of whether or not the injector is releasing reagent into the exhaust gases, reagent may be circulated continuously between the tank 10 and the reagent injector 16 to cool the injector and minimize the dwell time of the reagent in the injector so that the reagent remains cool. Continuous reagent circulation may be necessary for temperature-sensitive reagents, such as aqueous urea, which tend to solidify upon exposure to elevated temperatures of 300° C. to 650° C. as would be experienced in an engine exhaust system.

Furthermore, it may be desirable to keep the reagent mixture below 140° C. and preferably in a lower operating range between 5° C. and 95° C. to ensure that solidification of the reagent is prevented. Solidified reagent, if allowed to form, may foul the moving parts and openings of the injector.

The amount of reagent required may vary with load, exhaust gas temperature, exhaust gas flow, engine fuel injection timing, desired NO_(x) reduction, barometric pressure, relative humidity, EGR rate and engine coolant temperature. A NO_(x) sensor or meter 25 is positioned downstream from catalyst bed 17. NO_(x) sensor 25 is operable to output a signal indicative of the exhaust NO_(x) content to an engine control unit 27. All or some of the engine operating parameters may be supplied from engine control unit 27 via the engine/vehicle databus to the reagent electronic injection controller 14. The reagent electronic injection controller 14 could also be included as part of the engine control unit 27. Exhaust gas temperature, exhaust gas flow and exhaust back pressure and other vehicle operating parameters may be measured by respective sensors.

With reference now to FIGS. 2-4, reagent injector 100 will be further described. Reagent injector 100 includes an outer injector body 102 having an outer body upper section 102 a and an outer body lower section 102 b. Outer body lower section 102 b may include a deformable portion 103 that is crimped to outer body upper section 102 a. An elongated inner lower body 104 may be received within at least one of outer body upper section 102 a and outer body lower section 102 b. Elongated inner lower body 104 defines a cylindrical central bore 106 in fluid communication with an orifice plate 108 to define at least one exit orifice 110 that passes completely through the orifice plate 108.

Orifice plate 108 may be coupled to and retained within outer body lower section 102 b using an orifice plate holder 112. Orifice plate holder 112 may be integrally formed with inner lower body 104, if desired. Alternately, orifice plate holder 112 is formed separately, as shown in the FIGS., to include a reduced diameter portion 114 spaced apart from an inner wall 116 of outer body lower section 102 b. A supply fluid passageway 118 is formed therebetween. Reduced diameter portion 114 is hollow and receives a reduced diameter end portion 120 of inner lower body 104. Plate holder 112 may be fixed to inner lower body 104 and outer body lower section 102 b via a process such as electron beam welding. Orifice plate holder 112 also includes a central bore 124 coaxially aligned with central bore 106 and having a smaller inner diameter than central bore 106. A plurality of passageways 125 extend through plate holder 112 to fluidly interconnect passageway 118 with a cavity 126 formed between reduced diameter end portion 120 and central bore 124.

A valve member 130 is slidably mounted within central bore 106. Valve member 130 includes an elongated pintle 132 having a conically shaped first end 134 and an opposite second end 136. Conical end 134 is selectively engageable with valve seat 140 to define a sealed and closed position of valve member 130 when seated. An unsealed, opened position exists when pintle 132 is unseated from valve seat 140. Valve seat 140 surrounds exit orifice 110. The valve seat may be conically or cone-shaped as shown to complement the shape of conical end 134 of pintle 132 to restrict the flow of reagent through orifice 110. Depending on the application and operating environment, pintle 132 and orifice plate 108 may be made from a carbide material, which may provide desired performance characteristics and may be more easily and cost-effectively manufactured. In addition, limitations or disadvantages associated with other materials may be avoided, such as those associated with manufacturing complex part shapes. Carbide may provide additional advantages, such as insensitivity to brazing temperatures that may range from 870-980° C., as opposed to carbon steels and tool steels, which may distemper. Carbide may also provide an increased surface hardness when compared to the hardness achievable with most other steels. Carbide may also be advantageous with regard to overall wear resistance.

A pintle head 142 is fixed to end 136 of pintle 132. Pintle head 142 is slidably positioned within an enlarged bore 144 of inner lower body 104. A running-class slip fit between pintle head 142 and bore 144 provides an upper guide for valve member 130. A lower valve member guide is formed at the sliding interface between central bore 124 and pintle 132. Based on this arrangement, valve member 130 is accurately aligned with valve seat 140 and exit orifice 110.

A bottom surface 150 of pintle head 142 is spaced apart from a surface 152 of inner lower body 104 to define a cavity 154 in fluid communication with cavity 126 via a passageway 158 defined as a portion of central bore 106 that is not occupied by pintle 132. A passageway 160 extends through pintle head 142 to define a portion of a reagent return passageway.

A pole piece 164 having a first end 166 is sized to be received within bore 144. First end 166 of pole piece 164 is fixed to inner lower body 104 using a process such as electron beam welding. An opposite second end 168 of pole piece 164 is sealingly fitted within a bore 172 formed in outer body upper section 102 a. A seal 176 separates an inlet passageway 178 from an outlet passageway 180 within outer body upper section 102 a. Elongated pole piece 164 includes a central bore 184 extending therethrough. Central bore 184 is coaxially aligned with central bore 106. A counterbore 188 inwardly extends from second end 168 of pole piece 164 that is coaxially aligned with a counterbore 190 extending into pintle head 142. A compression spring 194 is positioned within counterbores 188, 190 to urge valve member 130 into engagement with seat 140.

An electromagnet assembly 200 is positioned within outer body upper section 102 a as depicted in the FIGS. Electromagnet assembly 200 may include a plastic material 201 overmolded to encapsulate the other components of electromagnet assembly 200 therein. Electromagnet assembly 200 includes a coil of wire 202 wrapped around a bobbin 204. A two-piece flux frame 207 includes a first frame half 208 fixed to a second flux frame half 210 positioned to circumferentially surround wire 202 and bobbin 204. Pintle head 142 is constructed from a magnetic material such as 430 stainless steel such that electrical energization of coil 202 produces a magnetic field urging pintle head 142 toward pole piece 164. End 134 of pintle 132 becomes disengaged from seat 140 to allow reagent to flow through exit orifice 110. Coil 202 may be energized via access to a receptacle 211, for example, in response to a signal from electronic injection controller 14. Electronic injection controller 14 receives sensor input signals and determines when reagent is to be injected into the exhaust stream to provide selective catalytic reduction of NO_(x) emissions.

Controller 14 also defines the reagent injection duration and reagent injection rate. Depending on the engine operating condition, load, ambient air temperature, exhaust temperature, and other factors, it may be desirable to control injector 100 to deliver a relatively wide range of reagent injection rates. To achieve this goal, it may be desirable to minimize the total time associated with moving pintle 132 from a seated position, to an open position, and returned to the seated position. Accurate control of the position of pintle head 142 may be achieved by providing a well defined magnetic circuit.

Flux frame half 210 includes a radially extending portion 214 generally extending along transverse line 216. Pintle head 142 includes an enlarged diameter portion 218 intersected by line 216. Both flux frame half 210 and pintle head 142 are made from a magnetic material. To further define the magnetic circuit, inner lower body 104 is constructed from a non-magnetic material such as 304 stainless steel. A portion of inner lower body 104 through which line 216 crosses includes a minimum cross-sectional thickness to minimize any interruption in magnetic flux.

A fluid sleeve assembly 220 is depicted as a three-piece assembly having a first flux bridge collar 224 and a second flux bridge collar 226 interconnected by a flux break 228. Fluid sleeve assembly 220 is shaped as an elongated hollow cylindrical member sized and positioned to define a portion of inlet passage 178. First and second seals 232, 234 assure that pressurized reagent continues to travel through inlet passage 178 and does not enter electromagnet assembly 200. Each of flux bridge collars 226 and 224 are substantially the same including a counterbore with a first reduced inner diameter 238 and a second larger inner diameter 240. The external surface of each flux collar is also stepped including a cylindrical surface 242 having a larger outer diameter than a second cylindrical surface 244. Flux break 228 is a substantially right circular cylinder having an inner surface 248 engaged and fixed to each reduced diameter outer surface 244. Outer surface 242 engages or is very minimally spaced apart from walls 252 and 254 that define circular apertures extending through flux frame halves 210, 208. Inner cylindrical surface 238 of flux bridge collar 224 is sized to closely fit inner lower body 104 and minimize any air gap through which line 216 intersects.

Inner cylindrical surface 238 of flux bridge collar 226 is sized to cooperate with an enlarged diameter portion 260 of pole piece 164. Flux frame half 208 includes a radially inwardly extending portion 264 extending along a line 266. Enlarged diameter portion 260 and flux bridge collar 226 are axially positioned to be aligned with line 266 and provide a magnet circuit pathway across injector 100. Flux frame halves 208 and 210 are constructed from a magnetic material such as 1018 low carbon steel. Flux bridge collars 224 and 226 are constructed from ferritic 430 stainless steel. Pole piece 164 is made from ferritic 430 stainless steel or a similar magnetic material. Pintle head 142 may be made from ferritic 430 stainless steel. Flux break 228 is made from non-ferritic and non-magnetic 304 stainless steel as is inner lower body 104. Constructing the previously described components from magnetic and non-magnetic materials as well as closely positioning the magnetic materials adjacent to one another along lines 216 and 266 greatly improves the magnetic circuit performance associated with electromagnet assembly 200. Benefits may include the use of a smaller coil wire, a lesser number of turns of wire, and a reduced quantity of electric current to provide an improved electromagnetic actuator having lower cost, reduced size and mass. Increased control regarding the position of valve member 130 is also realized. It should also be appreciated that the transverse planes defined by the ends of cylindrical wire coil 202 may be interpreted as part of the magnetic circuit as well as the planes containing lines 216 and 266. At least one of these transverse planes cuts through pintle head 142, flux bridge collars 224, 226 and enlarged diameter pole piece portion 260.

A reagent fluid path is defined within injector 100 when pintle 132 is in the closed position. The fluid path provides for circulation of fluid through injector 100. More particularly, the reagent fluid path extends from an inlet 270 of outer body upper section 102 a through an inlet filter 268 and inlet passageway 178 including a gap between an outer surface of pole piece 164 and outer body upper section 102 a, through fluid sleeve assembly 220, fluid passageway 118, the paths formed in plate holder 112 through cavity 126, passageway 158, passageway 160, central bore 184, outlet passageway 180, a restrictor orifice 272, an outlet filter 274, to exit outlet 278. Typically, reagent entering inlet 270 is at a first relatively cool temperature compared to the exhaust passing through exhaust system 18 in close proximity to orifice 110. The recirculation of reagent through injector 100 transfers heat from orifice plate 108 and orifice plate holder 112. The recirculation of reagent also assists in transferring heat from coil 202 because bobbin 204 is placed in close contact with fluid sleeve assembly 220 through which reagent flows.

When coil 202 is electrically energized, a magnetic field is generated and pintle head 142 is urged against the biasing force of spring 194 to unseat pintle end 134. Pressurized reagent located within cavity 126 passes between pintle 132 and seat 140 and through exit orifice 110 to inject reagent into an exhaust stream flowing through exhaust system 18. Electromagnet assembly 200 may be controlled by any number of methods including pulse width modulation to open and close exit orifice 110 at a predetermined frequency.

Furthermore, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An injector for injecting a reagent, the injector comprising: a housing; an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing; an electromagnet positioned within the housing and including a coil of wire circumscribing at least a portion of the valve member, wherein the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet; a flux frame surrounding the coil, the frame including first and second radially extending portions axially spaced apart from one another, extending along substantially parallel planes positioned on opposite sides of the coil; a flux sleeve including two magnetic portions interconnected by a non-magnetic portion, each of the magnetic portions being intersected by one of the planes in which the radially extending flux frame portions lie to define flux bridges, the non-magnetic portion being surrounded by the coil and axially positioned between the parallel planes to define a flux break; and a tubular pole piece disposed within the housing, wherein the pole piece defines a return passageway for reagent to flow when the valve member is at the seated position.
 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the flux sleeve includes three coaxially aligned tubes connected to each other.
 3. The injector of claim 1, further including a bobbin around which the wire is wound, the bobbin including a cylindrical portion positioned adjacent to the non-magnetic flux sleeve portion.
 4. The injector of claim 3, wherein the reagent is directed to flow through the flux sleeve.
 5. The injector of claim 1, wherein the valve member includes a cylindrical pintle coupled to an enlarged pintle head, the pintle head being made from a magnetic material and positioned such that one of the planes intersects the pintle head when the valve member is at the seated position.
 6. The injector of claim 5, wherein at least one of the magnetic flux sleeve portions includes an increased thickness at a position intersected by one of the planes.
 7. The injector of claim 5, wherein the flux sleeve is axially positioned relative to the pole piece and the pintle head.
 8. The injector of claim 1, further including a spring located within the tubular pole piece, the spring urging the valve member toward the seated portion.
 9. The injector of claim 1, wherein the pole piece is axially positioned within the coil.
 10. The injector of claim 1, wherein the pole piece includes an enlarged diameter portion intersected by one of the planes.
 11. The injector of claim 1, wherein the non-magnetic flux sleeve portion includes 304 stainless steel.
 12. The injector of claim 1, wherein the magnetic flux sleeve portion includes 430 stainless steel.
 13. An injector for injecting a reagent, the injector comprising: a housing; an axially translatable valve member positioned within the housing; an electromagnet positioned within the housing and including a cylindrically-shaped coil of wire, wherein the valve member moves between a seated position and an unseated position in response to energizing the electromagnet; a flux sleeve passing through the coil and including two magnetic portions interconnected by a non-magnetic portion, each of the magnetic portions being aligned with transverse planes defined by the ends of the cylindrical coil, the non-magnetic portion being axially positioned between the transverse planes; and a pole piece disposed within the housing, wherein the pole piece includes an enlarged diameter portion intersected by one of the planes, the enlarged diameter portion including a groove providing a reagent flow path in communication with the reagent flowing through the flux sleeve.
 14. The injector of claim 13, wherein the flux sleeve includes three coaxially aligned tubes connected to each other.
 15. The injector of claim 13, further including a bobbin around which the wire is wound, the bobbin including a cylindrical portion positioned adjacent to the non-magnetic flux sleeve portion.
 16. The injector of claim 15, wherein the bobbin includes radially extending flanges each aligned along one of the transverse planes.
 17. The injector of claim 13, wherein the reagent is directed to flow through the flux sleeve.
 18. The injector of claim 13, wherein the valve member includes a cylindrical pintle coupled to an enlarged pintle head, the pintle head being made from a magnetic material and positioned such that one of the planes intersects the pintle head when the valve member is at the seated position.
 19. The injector of claim 18, wherein at least one of the magnetic flux sleeve portions includes an increased thickness at a position intersected by one of the planes.
 20. The injector of claim 19, further including a spring located within a recess of the pole piece, the spring urging the valve member toward the seated portion.
 21. The injector of claim 18, wherein the flux sleeve is axially positioned relative to the pole piece and the pintle head.
 22. The injector of claim 13, wherein the pole piece is hollow and defines a return passageway for reagent to flow when the valve member is at the seated position. 